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Ch.5 - Periodicity & Electronic Structure of Atoms
Chapter 5, Problem 139a

Consider the noble gas xenon. (a) Write the electron configuration of xenon using the abbreviation of the previous noble gas.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. It is represented by a series of numbers and letters that indicate the energy levels and sublevels occupied by electrons. Understanding electron configuration is essential for predicting an element's chemical behavior and reactivity.
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Noble Gases

Noble gases are a group of elements in Group 18 of the periodic table, known for their lack of reactivity due to having a full valence shell of electrons. The noble gas preceding xenon is krypton, which has an electron configuration that can be used as a shorthand to simplify the representation of xenon's configuration.
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Abbreviated Electron Configuration

Abbreviated electron configuration uses the electron configuration of the nearest preceding noble gas to simplify the notation for larger atoms. For xenon, this means starting with the configuration of krypton and then adding the additional electrons in xenon's outer shells, making it easier to write and understand.
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